Military Glossary

Active Duty Continuous duty on a daily basis. Comparable to "full-time" as used in reference to a civilian job.     Allowances Money, other than basic pay, to compensate in certain specified situations for expenses such as meals, rent, clothing, and travel. Also, compensation is usually given for maintaining proficiency in a specific skill area, such as flying or parachuting.     Artillery Large cannons or missile launchers used in combat.     ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. A test that provides student with academic and vocational aptitude scores to assist them in career exploration and decision-making. ASVAB scores are used by the military services to determine enlistment eligibility and to assign occupational specialties.     Base A locality of installation on which a military force relies for supplies or from where it initiates operations.     Basic Pay The amount of pay a military member receives, as determined by pay grade and length of service. Basic pay does not include other benefits such as allowance or bonuses.     Civilian Anyone not on active duty in the military.     Commissioned Officer A member of the military holding the rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above. This role in the military is similar to that of a manager or executive.     DEP Delayed Entry Program. A military program that allows an applicant to delay entry into active duty for up to one year, for such things as finishing school, etc.     Drill To train or exercise in military operations     Duty Assigned task or occupation. Enlisted Member - Military personnel below the rank or warrant or commissioned officers. This role is similar to that of a company employee or supervisor     Enlistee A service member, not a warrant officer or commissioned officer, who has been accepted by the military and has taken the Oath of Enlistment     Enlistment Agreement/ Contract A legal contract between the military and an enlistment applicant, which contains information such as enlistment date, term of enlistment, and other options such as a training program guarantee or a cash bonus.     GI Bill Benefits A program of education benefits for individuals entering the military. This program enables service persons to set aside money to be used later for educational purposes.     Inactive Reserve Duty Affiliation with the military in a non-training, non-paying status after completing minimum obligation off active duty service.     Infantry Units of men trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot.     Job Specialty A specific job or occupation in one of the five services     MEPS Military Entrance Processing Stations, which are located around the country. The enlistment process occurs at each of these stations.     National Guard The National Guard serves in both a state and federal capacity. Governors may call upon Soldiers and Airmen to assist in community support, disaster relief and other local emergencies. During national emergencies, these same units are called upon to support their active counterparts in the Army and Air Force.     NCO Non-commissioned Officer. An enlisted member in pay grades E-4 or higher.     Obligation The period of time one agrees to serve on active duty, in the reserve, or a combination of both.     OCS Officer Candidate School. Program for college graduates with no prior military training who wish to become military officers. Also, qualified enlisted member who wish to become officers may attend OCS. After successful completion, candidates are commissioned as military officers.     OTS (OTG) Officer Training School (Group). See OCS, Officer Candidate School.     Officer See commissioned officer.     Pay Grade A level of employment, as designated by the military. There are 9 enlisted pay grades and 10 officers pay grades throughout which personnel can progress during their career. Pay grade and length of service determine a service member's pay     Quarters Living accommodations or housing.     Recruit See enlistee.     Regular Military Compensation Total value of basic pay, allowances, and tax savings, which represents the amount of pay a civilian worker would need to earn to receive the same take home "pay" as a services member.     Reserves The Reserves are those people in the military who are not presently on full-time, active duty. In a national emergency, reservists can be called up immediately to serve on active duty because they are highly trained by the services and drill regularly. During peacetime, they perform functions in support of the active duty forces in our country's defense, such as installation and repair of communications equipment. Reservists are also entitled to some of the employment benefits available to active military personnel.     ROTC Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Training given to undergraduate college students who plan to become military officers. Often they receive scholarships for tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and a monthly allowance.     Service or Services A branch or multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces. There are five in all: the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps (or Marines) and the Navy.     Services Classifier A military information specialist who helps applicants select a military occupational field.     Service Obligation The amount of time an enlisted member agrees to serve in the military, as stated in the enlistment agreement.     Station A place of assigned duty.     Tour of Duty A period of obligated service. Also used to describe a type of duty tour, such as a "Mediterranean tour."     Warrant Officer A member of the Army, Navy or Marines who is a technical specialist or pilot. These members are generally appointed from the enlisted, non-commissioned officer ranks.

 

Next >